Star-Spangled Restaurant Week Offers Summer Dining Options

You might say a new tradition is cooking in Severna Park and Arnold.

Star-Spangled Restaurant Week, in which 18 local restaurants will offer limited-time discounts to showcase new menus or entice new patrons, is set to begin on Sunday, July 1, and continue through Saturday, July 7, giving residents an excuse to dine out over the course of Independence Day week, a notoriously slow time of business for those in the restaurant industry.

A tradition like Star-Spangled Restaurant Week — which was first organized by the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce in 2015 but has been revived only sporadically since then — holds appeal for many reasons, according to Liz League, the chamber’s CEO. “Some people look forward to going to their standard watering hole but maybe getting a good deal on something,” she said. “The foodies like to try different places, and this makes it affordable for people to make the rounds. It’s attractive for new restaurants. It’s a lure to bring people in who might not normally try something.”

Each participating restaurant gets to choose its own special that it will offer patrons. Unlike restaurant weeks in other cities or towns, where participating businesses typically need to offer a meal at a set price point, Star-Spangled Restaurant Week offers the flexibility for its participants to show off themselves in whatever way works best for them.

For Kosmas “Tommie” Koukoulis, owner of Café Mezzanotte and Capiche, this flexibility works well. Café Mezzanotte — known for its fine, white-tablecloth dining — will offer a $15 prix fixe two-course lunch and a $35 prix fixe three-course dinner. “The menus consist of our most in-season items already available across all of our regular menus,” he said. “We designed each menu to include exciting options so that diners are able to experience Italian classics as well as some of our chefs’ more interesting creations.”

A little ways down Ritchie Highway, the fast-casual Capiche will have a $10 combo offering any pizza, pasta, salad or piada with Maine Root soda and house-made breadsticks at either lunch or dinner time. “It’s a killer deal designed to make it a no-brainer for new guests to experience the Italian street food scene at Capiche,” Koukoulis said.

This new tradition is as exciting for the restaurant owners as it is for the customers. “Restaurant Weeks are so important for local businesses to showcase great food and, at the same time, show appreciation for our customers and hopefully meet some new friends too,” said Janet Sumner, owner of Founders Tavern & Grille, which will offer a three-course dinner with salad, choice of entrée and choice of dessert for the holiday-appropriate price of $17.76. Additionally, Founders will highlight a cocktail called the Betsy Ross — Gentleman Jack Whiskey, bitters, lemonade, ginger beer and muddled strawberry.

“We are very excited to highlight some of the new menu items like the watermelon caprese and the Chicago beef sandwich,” Sumner added.

At Broadneck Grill, patrons will be able to choose a three-course meal from a list of select appetizers, entrees and desserts, all for a set price point of $20.18 for lunch and $30.18 for dinner.

Adam’s Taphouse Grille is even getting into the spirit of the holiday by offering what it calls the Star-Spangled Trio. “It consists of pork barbecue, smoked beef brisket and ribs,” said owner Joe LeFavor. “Each dinner is served with sliced tomatoes and corn on the cob.”

Ledo Pizza is keeping it simple but still irresistible — a 14-inch cheese pizza and Italian salad for $12.99, whether it’s lunch or dinner. “This is a great price point that can’t be beat and we are offering it for dine-in or carryout,” said owner Martin Gorman.

Other restaurants participating in Star-Spangled Restaurant Week will be Bill Batemans Bistro, Garry's Grill, O'Loughlin's Restaurant and Pub, Pascal's Chophouse, Romilo’s Restaurant & Bar, Two Rivers Steak & Fish House, Vida Taco Bar, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Hellas Restaurant and Lounge, Ellie's Place, Park Deli and Café Bretton. For more information, find and like the “Star-Spangled Restaurant Week” Facebook page, which will have updates on participating restaurants and their specials as they become available.

League expects to see Star-Spangled Restaurant Week become an annual event that gets better and better with each passing year. “This is the beginning of a hopefully long tradition that will be fine-tuned,” she said. “My goal is to put it on the map and have it be something people look forward to every year the way they do for Annapolis Restaurant Week.”